Currently Martyn Jacques, Adrian Stout, Adrian Huge (Past member Phil Butcher)
Their surreal style has been described as dark, darkly humorous, strangely humorous, Brechtian, and gypsy cabaret. They are also notorious for singing controversial songs involving bestiality, prostitution and blasphemy.
The Tiger Lillies were originally buskers, playing songs about the criminals, pimps and whores of Soho, London, England. Over time, the band became involved in several theatrical productions around the world, including the critically acclaimed Shockheaded Peter. Known for their intense, outlandish, and dark performances, they have garnered both controversy and critical acclaim.
Also "The Tiger Lillies", "The Tigerlilies" and "The Tigerlillies" may refer to Indie rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio that formed in 1989.
Bio:
Cincinnati's power pop stalwarts the Tigerlillies formed in 1989 and set out to fuse glam rock, roots rock, and post-punk into an aesthetic they called "More Pop than Jesus." Led by vocalist/guitarist Pat Hennessy, the band also included former members of the Chrome Cranks, the Candy Snatchers, and G.G. Allin & the Murder Junkies before settling on the lineup of Hennessy, guitarist/vocalist William Weber, bassist Brian Driscoll, and drummer/vocalist Steve Hennessy.
Discography:
Deep (1992)
Space Age Love Songs (1997)
Ceci N'est Ces Pop (2003)
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Sin
The Tiger Lillies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The filth and the fury the neurotic need
Where are we going where does it lead?
The strife and the striving as life from us bleeds
Sin, sin
What is its point, its purpose, its goal?
Striving with ego to triumph to win
For wealth and for power commit any sin
Sin, sin
The stinking corpse rank with decay
A king or a duke forgotten today
Sin, sin
So thrust with your ego you will not be saved
We all end as paupers alone in our graves
Worry, hurry and fight for your rights
You'll never get there then bang, out go the lights
Sin, sin
Each action each striving a pointless game
And after it's over forgotten your name
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Sin, sin
The Tiger Lillies’ song “Sin” reflects a nihilistic perspective on life and the meaninglessness of our actions and endeavors. The lyrics revolve around questions about the point and purpose of our existence, and where our constant striving for success and power will ultimately lead. The opening lines suggest a sense of despair and desperation that pervades our lives amidst the filth and fury of the world. The repeated refrain of “sin, sin” echoes the moral depravity that we often succumb to and the futility of our efforts to find meaning and purpose.
The song continues with a stark realization that the pursuit of ego-driven goals and the desire for wealth and power can lead us to commit any sin. The images of a stinking corpse rank with decay and a forgotten king or duke reveal the ultimate futility of our aspirations and the legacy we leave behind. The final verse warns us not to be deluded by worry, hurry, and the fight for our rights, for we will inevitably end up alone in our graves as paupers. The song concludes with the assertion that each action and striving in life is a meaningless game, and even our names will be forgotten after our inevitable demise.
Overall, “Sin” presents a bleak vision of life where there is no inherent meaning or purpose, and our constant search for validation and success leads us to commit sins that ultimately result in our own downfall and death.
Line by Line Meaning
What is the point of this life that we lead?
What is the purpose or meaning of the life we live?
The filth and the fury the neurotic need
We have a compulsion towards negativity, fueling our turmoil and decay in life.
Where are we going where does it lead?
Where are we headed in this journey of life, and what will be the final destination of it?
The strife and the striving as life from us bleeds
The never-ending struggle and fight in trying to achieve aims and goals leads to the exhaustion and depletion of our life force.
Sin, sin
Sinning is our only resort or way out.
What is its point, its purpose, its goal?
What is the end result or objective of sinning, and what does it achieve?
Where is it going, each one plays his role?
Everyone has their own individual objectives or goals in sinning, but where is it ultimately leading all of us?
Striving with ego to triumph to win
We use our pride and arrogance to gain dominance and come out as winners in any given situation.
For wealth and for power commit any sin
We indulge in immoral activities, either for gaining riches or authority, and are willing to do anything for it.
Sin, sin
Sinning is our only means to gain riches and power.
The stinking corpse rank with decay
Our physical bodies will someday emit putrid smell while decaying and will be of no significance.
A king or a duke forgotten today
The status or position we may hold today will not matter or be remembered in the future.
Sin, sin
In the end, the only legacy we might leave is the sin we have committed.
So thrust with your ego you will not be saved
Even if we use our self-obsessed mentality to gain power, we won't be able to save ourselves from the inevitable death.
We all end as paupers alone in our graves
Everyone dies equally and ends up as a lifeless body buried in isolation.
Worry, hurry and fight for your rights
We tend to stress ourselves out in the chase for claiming what we deserve.
You'll never get there then bang, out go the lights
We may never be able to reach our goals, and sudden death may occur before we do.
Sin, sin
All the actions that we take, the desires we fulfill; nothing would matter. All we will be remembered for will be our sins.
Each action each striving a pointless game
The struggle and fight that we go through in achieving our goals is a meaningless pursuit, and nothing we do really matters.
And after it's over forgotten your name
After dying, we won't be remembered for our achievements or success but will be only remembered for our sins.
Yeah, yeah, yeah
An expression used to show agreement or acceptance.
Sin, sin
Once again, it is reminded all that matters is our sins.
Contributed by Lucas B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.